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National Referendum on the European Union

Just let me answer the question. The economics were not right to enter the euro; the economics are not right to enter the euro; and we do not envisage circumstances in which the economics will be right to enter the euro in the foreseeable future. Let me offer Government Members a further argument about how they should vote this evening:"““What most people want in this country, I believe, is not actually to leave the European Union, but to reform the European Union””." Those were not my words but the words of their own Prime Minister. And what of the Prime Minister's real influence in Europe, about which we have heard something this afternoon? It is true that European leaders have been arguing for months, but President Sarkozy's comments last night, which seem to have engendered pride among Conservative Members, confirmed that about the only thing that European leaders can agree upon is how unconvincing they find the stance of the British Prime Minister. Let me share with the House the President's words. He said:"““We're sick of you criticising us and telling us what to do. You say you hate the euro…and now you want to interfere in our meetings””." When I read that, I thought for a moment that the President had joined the 1922 committee. The President, European leaders and even 1922 committee members are unconvinced by the position that the Prime Minister has adopted. The Prime Minister boasts to the House that he will have a leading role when European leaders gather at lunch on Wednesday, but on last night's performance, he will be lucky to get a bread roll from them. The Prime Minister's isolation results directly from the sad truth that in recent weeks, the Government have spent more time negotiating with their Back Benchers than they have spent negotiating with European partners.